Apparatus for expanding slitted metal sheets



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. and auxiliary drives, taken on the line 11-11 Patented Jan. 5, 1932 .UNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE GEORGE W. LENTZ, OJ? CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T'O REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A CORPORATION NEW 'JERSEY ABPARATUS FOR EXPANDIN G SLITTED METAL SHEETS Application illed April 13,

scribed in the co-pending application of.

Thomas A.. Sindelar, Serial No. 269,820.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent in the course of the following description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawin ,wherein Fig. 1 is a si e elevation of the spreader with the various parts thereof shown in the position they occupy at the beginning of the spreading operations;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the spreader with the vari-ous parts thereof shown in the position they occupy at the end of the spreadino1 operation;

ig. 3 is a front elevation of the left half of the spreader;

Fig. l1 is a. front elevation of the right half of the spreader;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the spreader, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the spreader, taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, through the rear clamping bars and adjacent portions of the spreader;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, through the front clamping bars of the spreader;

F ig. 9 is a cross-section through the cam and roller, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, through the conveyor mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a cross-section through the main of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the draw- 1928. Serial No. 269,773.

` ings wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts, it is seen that the Base The hase of the machine comprisesI-beams 1, suitably spaced apart b means of angle cross-beams 2, and a charme 3. Bronze bearing plates 4 are secured to the upper flanges of the I-beams 1.

Stationary clamping mechanism The stationary clamping mechanism includes an upper clamping bar 5 secured in a recess in bar holder 6, and a lower clamping bar 7 secured in a recess in bar holder 8. The bar holder 6 is in turnsecured to crossmember 9, and bar holder 8 is secured to crossniember 10. The cross-member 9 is provided at its ends with .bearing blocks 11 which are mounted to slide vertically in guides 12 of stationary housings 13 secured to I-beams 1. The ends of cross-member 10 rest upon shelves 14, integral with the housings 13, and are secured to the housings by means of clip angles 15. Y

For the purpose of facilitating insertion of the sheet to be expanded -into the machine,

pressure plate 16 is provided, this plate being mounted on a plurality of coil springs 17 for reciprocal movement in recess 18 of bar holder 8. `The top of the pressure plate is bev- -eled as at 19 to further facilitate entrance of the sheet. v Movable clamping ami slwamfng Afrnecham'ewn The movable clamping and shearing mechanism includes an upper clamping bar 20 secured in a recess in bar holder 21, and a lower clamping bar 22 secured in a recess in bar holder 23. The bar holder 21 is inturn secured to cross-member 24, and the bar holder 23 is secured to cross-member 25. The crossmember 24 is provided at its ends with bearing blocks 26 which are mounted to slide vertically in guides 27 of movable housings 28. The ends of cross-member rest upon shelves 29 integral with the housings 28 and are secured to the housings by means of clip angles 30.

A plurality of gauges or stops 31 mounted on coil springs 32 for reciprocal movement in recess 33 of bar holder 23'are secured at their rear portions to an angle bar 34, this bar bein in turn secured to arms 35 pivotally mounte at their rear ends on pins 36. Pins 36 are ri idly secured in the eyes 37 at the ends of ulcrum arms 38, which are secured at their opposite. ends to the web of crossmember 25.

The gauges further include eye-bolts 39 secured at one end to arms 35 by means of links 40 and adj ustably secured at their opposite ends in sleeves 41, the intermediate portion of the eye-bolts being ada ted to reciprocate vertically in guide bloc 42 secured to the web of the cross-member 25. The sleeves 41 are adjustably secured in boxes 43 having guideslots 44 extending therethrough.

The shearing mechanism, clearly shown in Fig. 6, includes two pairs of coacting rotary cutters 45 and 46, cutters 45 being ad ustably secured near the ends of arbor 47, au cutters 46 being adjustably secured near the ends of arbor 48.' The reduced ends of the arbors 47 and 48 are mounted in bearing boxes 49, which are adjustably secured in guides 50 in the movable housings 28. The arbor 47 is driven bv the arbor 48 through the intermediary of gears 51 secured on the respective arbors. v

Conveyor mechanism The conveyor mechanism includes a plurality of coacting endless conveyor chains or belts 52, preferably of the link-belt type, mounted on sprockets 53 which are in turn mounted on shafts 54 and 55, secured in suitable housings 56. The housings 56 are secured in stationary housings 13.

The sprockets 53 are driven through the intermediary of gears 57 keyed to rear shafts 54 and 55. Pivotally secured at intervals alongv the rear shaft 54 at points spaced to correspond with the conveyor chains 52, are drag weights 58, which serve to take the slack out of the upper conveyor cha-ins, and thereby aord a better contact between the conveyor chains and the sheet to be expanded.

At spaced points intermediate the conveyor chains 52 are upper guides 59 secured to and depending from an angle cross-bar 60, which is in turn secured at its ends to housings 13 and 56. Lower guides 61, spaced to correspond with the upper guides 59 are secured to an angle cross-bar 62, which is in turn secured at its ends to housings 13 and 56.

Entrance table The entrance table consists of upper guides 63 and lower guides 64. The u per guides 63 are secured at spaced interva s to an angle cross-bar 65, whose ends are in turn secured to housings 13. The lower guides 64 are spaced at intervals tccorrespond with the upper guides and are secured at their rear ends to an angle cross-bar 66, whose ends are in turn secured to housings 13. The front ends of the lower guides are secured to an angle cross-bar 67 which is in turn secured to the upper ends of upright angle legs 68, the lower ends of which are secured to an angle cross-bar 69 mounted on I-beams 1.

Ez't table ,i The exit table consists of spaced an le bar guides'70 secured to angle cross-bars 1 and Dm'fving mechanism A stub shaft 79 mounted in a miter bearing' 80 secured to I-beam 1, is driven by a motor 81 through the intermediary of a gear reduction unit 82. A link-belt sprocket 83 is secured to the shaft79 and serves to drive the rear conve or shaft 55 through the intermediaryof a 'nk-belt chain 84.

Keyed tothe end of shaft 79 is a miter gear 85 which serves to drive a shaft 86 through the intermediary of miter gear 87, keyed to the shaft 86. The shaft 86 is mounted at its front end in miter bearing 80, and at its rear end in 88. Longitudinal movement of the shaft 86 is prevented by means of miter gear 87 and a collar 89 secured to the opposite end of the shaft. The shaft 86 is provided on diametrically opposite sides with splines 90 extending from the miter bearing 80 to the bearing 88.

Slidably mounted on the shaft 86 and pre- I vented from rotating bythe splines 90 are sleeves 91 and 92. A. 93 is secured at its upper portion to movable housing 28, and encloses sleeves91and`92. A stub shaft 94 is mounted intermediate the ends of the bearing 93 and is driven by means of a miter gear 95, keyed to one end of sleeve 91, through the intermediary of miter gear 96 keyed to one end of the stub shaft. A link.- belt sprocket 97 keyed to the opposite end of the stub shaft serves to drive the `shearing mechanism through the intermediary of a is suitably mounted on one end of link-belt 98 and a link-belt sprocket 99 keyed to the arbor 48.

A shaft 100 is mounted in bearings 101 and 102 secured to the webs of I-beams 1, and is driven by means of a gear 103 mounted on shaft 10.0, and a pinion 104 mounted on stub shaft 79.

A clutch 105 of the non-repeating in type aft 100 and is intermittently operated by means `of foot pedal mechanism, as is usual in machines of this type. A cam-shaft 106 is mounted on bearings 107 which are integral with the stationary housings 13, andv is driven through the intermediar of a pinion 108 and a clutch gear 109. i he cam-shaft 106 is provided at both ends with internal cams 110, and since the reciprocating mechanisms on both sides of the machine are alike, only that on one side will be described.

A lever arm 111 is pivotallymounted on a bracket bearing 112 secured to the web of Lbeam 1, and is provided at its opposite end with a roller 113 and a stud 114. Pivotally secured intermediate the ends of the lever arm 111 is a clevis 115 to the upper end of which a rod 116 is adjustably secured. The opposite end of rod 116 is secured to a bearing 117 whichis in turn pivotally mounted on bearing block 11 by 'means of a stub 118. Pivotally secured on the outer face of cam 110, by means of a stud 119, is a bearing 120, to which is adjustably secured one end of a rod 121, the opposite end of the rod being secured to a yoke bearing 122. The yoke bearing is in turn pivotally secured to toggle lever arms 123 and 124. Lever arm 123 is pivotally secured to housing 28 b means of a stud 125 and lever arm 124 is plvotally se cured to vbearing block 26, by means of a Method of operation With the various :parts of the machine in the relative position shown in Figs. 1, 5, 7, and 8, a metal sheet of predetermined length and width, whichIhas'been slitted prepara- `stud 126.

tory to expanding same, is placed upon the entrance table and inserted between up er and lower guides. 63 and 64. It is. t.. en pushed over pressure plate 16 to aposition where it maybe carried rearward by the conveyor chains 52. The sheet is supported during this movement by guides 61, and moves rearward to stops or gauges 31.

The machine operator then presses the pedal mechanism, which is provided for the operation of clutch 105, whereupon the cam shaft 106 and cams 110 rotate; the right side cam 110, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 rotating in a clockwise direction. The groove-in cam 110 acting on 'roller 113 depresses lever arm 111, thereby moving clamping bar 5 downward to securely clamp the forward edge of the sheet betweeny it'and the clamping bar k7.

The clamping action of bars 5 and 7 produces a marginal rib at the edge of thesheet at an angle of a proximately 45 degrees with the y planeof t e'sheet.

Simultaneously with the clamping action of bars. 5 and 7,' Stud 119 moves in a clockwise T170 i direction with cam 110, thereby forcing beararm 123 causes the latter to ivot on stud 125, y

and pulls upperfclampin ar 20 downward to clamp the rear edge o thesheet between it' and clamping bar22. The clamping action `of bars 20 and 22 produces a marginal rib at theedge of the sheet, at anv angley of approximately 45 degrees with theplane of the sheet, and on ,the opposite side thereof from the vrib atlthe otsher-'edge-of the sheet.

The downward movement of clam ing bar 21 forces gauges 31 downward, andhoxes 43 thereby move downward'to bring the lower surface of guide slots 44 to a position clear of the notches 76 in hold-down bar 75.

The entire movable clamping mechanismV is then moved rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 by the continued motion of bearing 120, rod 121, and yokebearing v122, carrying with'it the clamped rear edge of the sheet to thereby fully expand same.

Continued rotary. motion of cam 110 reverses the movement of bearing 120, rod 121, yoke bearing 122, and toggle lever arm 123, and thereby releases the clamped edges of the sheet from the clamping mechanisms. Continued motion of the toggle lever arm 123 in a forward direction brings the lower portion of the rear face of this lever arm into contact with a stop 127 integral with movable housing 28. The entire movable clamping mechanism then moves forwardl During the expansion of the s eet, gauges 31 are held downward by hold-down bars 75, and the hold-down action is continued until the return of the movable clamping mechanism to the position shown in Fig. 1, the gauges then occupying the position shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

At the instant the clamped edges of the sheet are released, the conveyor chains 52 carry the sheet rearward to a position where the sheet may be sheared to predetermined length by means of rotary cutters 45 and 46.

The expanded and sheared sheet then passes on-to the exit table from which itis' removed by an assistant operator.

Gbviously, many changes may be made' metalsheets,meansfor gripping one edge of a' sheet to be expanded, means for gripping the opposite edge of the sheet, gauges associated les with one of said gripping means to limit the movement of the sheet into the machine so that its edges are in proper position to be gripped by said gripping means, means for moving one of said gripping means away from the other to expand the sheet and means adapted to hold the gauges out of the path of the sheet after the expanding operation in order to permit passage of the expanded sheet -out of the machine.

2. In ,a machine for expanding slitted metal sheets, means for gripping one edge of a sheet-to be expanded, means for gripping the opposite edge of the sheet, conveyor means-disposed between said ripping means and means for moving one o said gripping means away from the other to expand the sheet; y

, 3. A structure as defined in claim 2, in which said conveyor means comprises endless chains.

4. In a machine for expanding slitted metal sheets, two pairs of gripping hars for the opposite edges of a slitted sheet shaped to bend the edges at similar inclinations on opposite sides of the plane of the sheet, means for feeding the sheet into the machine, means for stopping the sheet in proper position to be gripped by said bars, means for moving one pair of bars away from the other pair to expand the sheet, and. means for feeding the expanded sheet out of the machine.

In a machine for expanding slitted metal sheets, means for feeding a slitted sheet into the machine, pairs of bans for gripping the opposite edges of the sheet, vertically movable stop devices for stopping the feeding movement of the sheet when its edges are in proper position for being grasped by said gripping bars, means for separating the pairs of bars to expand the sheet, means for re- -tracting the stop devices and means for hold- 'ing the stop devices in retracted position while the expanded sheet is being fed out of the machine.

6. In a machine for expanding slitted metal sheets, a pair of gripping bars for-en- Y gaging and holding the rear edge of a slitted sheet, a pair of gripping bars for engaging the front edge of the sheet, feed chains arranged between the pairs of bars to lightly engage the upper and lower surface of the slitted sheet and means for moving one pair of hars away from the other pair of bars t0 expand the sheet, said chains permitting the sheet to expand and slip relatively thereto and serving to feed the slitted sheet into position for expansion and also serving to feed the expanded `sheet partially out of the machine.

7. In a machine for e.\'1'n1ndinr slitted metal sheets, claml'iing means for holding the rear edge of a slitted sheet, clamping bars for grasping the front edge of the sheet,

means for moving said clamping bars away from said clamping means for expanding the slitted sheet, means for feeding the sheet between the clamping means and clamping bars and a pair of rotary cutters for automaticallyl shearing at least one end of the expanded s eet as it is fed from the clamping bars.

8. In a machine for expanding slitted metal sheets, clamping means for ho ding one edge of a slitted sheet, clamping bars for graspin the opposite edge of the sheet, means or moving the clamping bars away from the clamping means to expand the slitted sheet, means for feeding the ex anded sheet partially out of the machine a ter the expanding operation and rotary cutters for automaticallyshearing at least one end of the expanded sheet as it is fed out of the machine.

9. In a machine for ex anding slitted metal sheets, clamping bars or grasping the opposite edges of a slitted sheet, continuously moving means for feeding sheets to and from said clamping bars, means for intermittently actuatin said clamping bars to engage and expan the slitted sheets and continuously rotating shearing means for trimming the ends of the sheets as they leave the clamping bars.

10. In a machine for expanding slitted metal sheets, means for holding one edge of a slitted sheet stationary, means for grasping and pulling the opposite edge of the sheet to ex and the sheet, said means including movab e housings, arbors carried by and movable with said housings and rotating shearing cutters carried by said arbors for trimming the sheet and means for feeding the expanded sheet to said cutters.

1l. In a machine for expanding slitted metal sheets, a air of holding bars, means for guiding a slitted sheet between said bars, means for pressing one bar toward the other to grasp the rear edge of the sheet, mechanism for feeding and expanding the sheet away from said holding bars, said mechanism including two pairs of` sprockets and connecting chains arranged respectively above and below the sheet for feeding the sheet, and means for shearing the sheet, said shearing means acting on the sheet automatically as it is fed forward after the rear edge is released from the pressing means.

12. In a machine for expanding slitted metal sheets, a pair of upper and lower holding bars, one of which is movable up and down to coact with the other to clamp and hold the rear-edge of a slitted sheet stationary, housings movable toward und from said holding bars, a pair of upper and lower pulling bars carried by and movable back and forth with said housings, one of said pulling bars being movable up and down in said housing to coact withl the other and grasp the front edge of the sheet, mechanism for sequentially bringing the bars of the respec- Lessen tive pairs into clamping relation and then expanding the slittecl sheet, means for feeding the sleet between the pairs of bars and means carried b the housings and movable therewith for eeding the expanded sheet away when it is released.

13. In a machine for expanding slited metal sheets, a v air of stationary housings a lower holding ar, a clamping bar mounted lo in said housing above the lower bar and vertica-ily movable to coast with the lower bar, a horizontally movable pair of housin lower and up er gripping bars carried by and movable orizontally with said latter 15 housings, the upper gripping bar being vertieally movable in said movable housings, a transverse shaft, a cam and a crank connected io said shaft, operating conneotin means be tween said cam and said vertica y movable s@ lamping bar, toggle arms carried by said horizontally movable housing, a stopon said housing for one of said arms, one of said arms being connected to the upper gri ping bar to move it up and down and a ro cona@ meeting said toggle arms and said crank.

1n testimony whereof ailix my signature. GEORGE W. LENTZ. 

